Ben Ikin backs Toowoomba in $450 million push for 20th NRL licence

Toowoomba have entered the race for the NRL's 20th licence with a bid worth up to $450 million, backed by former Broncos football boss Ben Ikin, who has given the consortium strategic advice. The bid will table a formal submission to the ARL Commission before Christmas, after Peter V'landys met Toowoomba officials last Sunday and toured potential sites. The NRL is expected to call for formal submissions in the coming weeks and aims to name the 20th team by Christmas, with entry in 2029. Bid spokesman Mark Mason said the consortium can pay the $100 million licence fee today. Toowoomba join the Ipswich Jets, a Logan consortium and several New Zealand bids in the race, while Queensland Premier David Crisafulli is pushing for a fifth Queensland team.

By Peter Badel, Brent Read, CODE Sports — read the full story